Di Giorgio Ranch Airport

Economic reasons and changes in land use. The airport was a private field owned by the Di Giorgio Fruit Corporation to serve their massive ranching operations. In the 1960s, the corporation underwent significant changes, including major labor disputes with the United Farm Workers led by Cesar Chavez. The company eventually began selling off its vast land holdings. The airfield was likely deemed obsolete or an unnecessary expense, and the land was converted back to its primary, more profitable purpose: agriculture.

The site has been completely reclaimed for agricultural use. Satellite imagery of the coordinates shows the area is now occupied by cultivated fields, likely vineyards or orchards, which are characteristic of the Arvin region. There are no visible remnants of the runway, taxiways, or any airport-related structures. The land is indistinguishable from the surrounding farmland.

Di Giorgio Ranch Airport was a private airfield that served as a vital logistical asset for the Di Giorgio Fruit Corporation, one of the largest agricultural enterprises in the United States during the mid-20th century. Established in the 1940s, the airport featured a single paved northwest/southeast runway. Its primary operations included transporting corporate executives and clients to and from the vast ranch holdings in the southern San Joaquin Valley. It may also have supported agricultural aviation activities such as crop dusting. The airport's existence and eventual removal are representative of the rise and transformation of large-scale corporate farming in California.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Di Giorgio Ranch Airport. The land has been actively and productively farmed for over 50 years, making its value for agriculture significantly higher than for aviation. The regional aviation needs are met by other nearby airports, such as Bakersfield Municipal Airport (L45) and Meadows Field (BFL).